Jon Scott is not your typical singer-songwriter. You won’t find this Nigerian-born and London-based Afro-soul optimist wearing busker chic, doing the usual circuit of open mics and toilet venues, or hanging about hopefully in Hoxton. Because Jon Scott took his parents very seriously when they packed him off to London as a wide-eyed teen to study for a proper career. So seriously that, when he isn’t writing, recording and performing his inspiring songs of love, peace and unity, running his own Brown Babes label, and being a proud father, he has a very proper job. Jon Scott is probably the only music-obsessed singer-songwriter who owns his own law firm in the city of London.

‘Music has always been the first thing,’ Jon explains. ‘The lawyer part… I just fell into it, basically. You’re supposed to have a career and my parents invested a lot of time and effort into that. So I compromised. But I never stopped gigging.’

So, after 20 years of living for music, the legal eagle decided to take his art as seriously as he could, and self-released his 2008 solo debut album Some R Beautiful and the Balearic beats-influenced Summer 08 EP. And, having found a growing audience for his brand of mellow, feel good pop-soul, he got straight on with making album number two.

Boasting co-production from Gordon Hulbert, who has worked with Annie Lennox, Chaka Khan and Angie Stone, Flow Like A River does exactly that, inviting the listener to recline in floating vessel of choice, bask in an eternally balmy sonic sun and let Scott steer them towards kinder, gentler waters. Or, as the man himself puts it: ‘The world is full of conflict. In my day job I see, first-hand, how confrontational people are when they don’t need to be. Its hard enough getting by without raging at the world to get what you want. Peace and unity is what Jon Scott’s all about and I make no apology for believing that that’s the most important thing to sing about.’

Scott’s musical journey began as a child in Lagos, taking in the kaleidoscopic clash of sounds that engulfed him as he walked through the Nigerian city streets. ‘Its not records in stores and supermarkets like it is here. If you’re walking down a Lagos street the shops are cheek to jowl. One minute you’re hearing hi-life, the next minute Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Abba… you’re hearing everything at once, including the local Afro-Beat. I was greatly influenced by Fela Kuti as a kid. I just loved the way he laid down a groove. The Afro-Beat thing was very special and unique… a man creating a whole genre for himself. But I also liked Abba’s melodies. Then there’s Marvin Gaye, Motown, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson… all the obvious suspects.’ Scott references both Gaye and Jackson on the album track and single, ‘Give Me A Call’.

‘The line is: “I’ve got Marvin on my iPod so let’s get it on / I hear Michael on the radio and I wanna rock with you.” A couple of months before Michael Jackson died, my 16-year-old son discovered Michael. I played him The Earth Song and he thought it was just amazing. He was desperate to get tickets for the shows at the O2 and I was staying up half the night trying to buy them. So when the news came it was shocking. My son and I were listening to Billie Jean a few days later and I felt the same way I did when it first came out. Even if he didn’t sing a note in that song – the groove was there. That groove is what I’m talking about and what I set out to achieve.’

www.vimeo.com/7027689

Jon Scott - "Give Me A Call" - Call Me Variation On A Theme Latino Mix